Device for actuating signals and the like.



J. KIEFER.

DEVICE FOR ACTUATING SIGNALS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED lULY 2|. 1915.

Patented July 23, 191&

1 I. m Tm w t I TU fiK v kn A mm s h H snares PATENT OFFICE.

ZJI'OHANN KIEZEER, or CHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A oonroan'rron on NEW YORK. y

EVICE FOR ACTUATING SIGNALS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23', 1918.

Application filed July 21, 1915. 7 Serial No. 413206.

To all whom it may concern:

Bo it'known that I, JOHANN Kmrnn, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at, (lliarlottenburg, Germany, have mvented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Actuating Signals and the like, of which the following is a specification.

invention relates to an actuating mechanism forlsignaling apparatus and particularly'to such apparatus as is mounted upon a mast or other support where the same is inaccessible to the operator, and must, therefore, be. actuated by means of connections extending some distance from the actuatmg mechanism, usually to the ground or floor. In devices of this character the light controlling mechanism, such as a shutter, remains either entirely open or entirely closed, or the same may be rapidly opened and closed. Hitherto for this purpose two operating connections extending to the ground have usually been provided, the one for opening the light controlling mechanism and the other forclos'ing the same, which connections had to be actuated alternately and the manipulation of which frequently led to confusion. V 2 v a In accordance with my invention a single operating connection is provided by means of which the actuating mechanism and through this thelight controlling apparatus is operated to one position and at the same time energy is; stored which when released actuates .the. automatic mechanism and through this the light controlling apparatus to assume the opposite position.

Anotherfeature of my invention is the provisionof a locking mechanism cooperating with, theactuating mechanism so that the lattermay be secured in a given position, the

locking mechanism being operated and released by the single manually actuated connection.

v, ,For afuller understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of the actuatin mechanism with a portion offthe casing roken away; and Big. 2 is a plan view show ng certain parts 1n section.

In the drawings 10 is acasing within which is mounted and housed the actuating mechanism. In the embodiment here shown, ions ,endof a shaft ll is journaled in the casing and the other end thereof is connect: ed to any suitable light controlling apparatus, such as a shutter. The shaft by its rotation in one direction or the other opens or closes the light controlling apparatus in a manner well known in the art. Forthe sake ofsimplicity, therefore, I'have not here illustrated the light controlling apparatus. Theshaft 11 is surrounded by a spring 12, one end of which is secured to the casing 10 while the other end is secured to the shaft 11,, the spring, in the embodiment here shown, being arranged to rotate the shaft in the direction of the hands of a clock and preferably to bring the light controlling mechanism to the open position. A disk 13 is secured on the shaft 11 and is provided with a lug 14 which engages a stop 15 when the light controlling apparatus has been brought to a predetermlned extreme position, preferably the closed position. A gear 16 is loosely mounted on the shaft 11, as here shown indirectly by means of a sleeve 1.7 which extends from the disk 13 and is interposed between the gear 16 andthe shaft 11. The disk 13 is connected to the gear 16 by a spring 18 which is relatively still as compared with the spring 12. The gear 16 is engagedby a toothed segment 19 which is secured on a shaft 20. A lever 21 is socured without the casing to the shaft 20, and is provided at its outer end with an opening 22 for the reception of one end of a cord or chain. (not shown) which extends to a point where the same is accessible to an operator.

A disk 23 issccurcd to or integral with one side of the segment 19. A crank arm 24 is secured on the shaft 20. i To the outer end of this crank arm is pivoted an arm 25, the

outer end of which is provided with an tends toward the disk 23.

When it is desired to manually actuate the light controlling mechanism, for ex ample to a closed position, the operator pulls down the lever 21 which causes the shaft 11 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction, to pnt spring 12 under tension and through suitable connections from the shaft 11 to operate the light controlling mechanism. As soon as thelug 14; engagesthe stop 15 the movement of the sleeve 17 ceases. the. lever 21 is rotated still further the more,

the spring--12:;"that is, in the embodiment here shown, to the: position in which the light controllingmechanismisopen.

Now if 't; is desired toimaintain: the light controllingm'e'chani-sm in a closedposition againstthe action of the spring 12, the le- 7 ver 21 must be moved'sti-ll further until'the detent on the pawl '29- engages the notch 28.- In'thismanner the spring 18 is put under tension and the actuating-'- mechanism 'islockedin a position correspondingto the closed position of the light controlling mechanism. In order=to release the lock the lever: 21 must be moved still" further against the tension of; the spring 18,which latter is thereby put under increased. tension. Theroller 26-then rides-up over the cam--32 and drops behind the same so that when the lever-21 is released and the roller is returned by the force exerted by the spring 18, the'roller engages the rearside of the]; earn 32: and; lifts, the detent'on the pawl 29 fromthe notch. For ordinary operation, however,that; is, for simply opening and closing; the; light controlling-mechanism, the operatoronly moves the lever 21 until he is aware, on account of the re- ;for the control of signal-ligl1ts, it; is, of course,'equally applicable tothe control of sistance offered by the spring IS, that the light controlling mechanism is in a closed position.

WVhile my invention is primarily-designed semaphores or other signal appliances.

' What I claim as new: and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is; '1 In combination, a movable member,

.two successivelyoperatedenergy 'storing d'ev ces 0tgdifierent power connected, to stud; member means. for moving sa d; member against the actionof the first energy storing device, and; means operative only "after the second"energy lstoring device becomes ac..-

tive for 'loc'ki'ngjsaid movable member against return movement. 7 V

2. In comb1nat1on, a; movable member, an

energy storing device connected to, said member for retnrnmg 1t' to its original position, means for moving said member against the. aetioniof sa denergy storing device, a' second energy storing device of 'ber which is put under tension, only after greater power than the first interposed between id me ns nd. id mov ble member, and a lock for restraining the movement of" said member and becoming operative. only after the. second energy storing device becomes active.

3. In a signaling device, a movablememdifferent power connected to'sa-id movable member for storing energy when said} member is moved; means for limiting the; energy storing capacity of the first energy; storing device which becomes operative when; the signalhas been operated, means operative after the second energy-storingdevice has become active for locking said movable member, and means; actuated in response to a; further; movement oi? said second energy storing device for releasing saidflock.

r 5. In a signal setting mechanism, amovable member for actuating thesignal', ,a spring connected ;ther eto which'is-put under tension ,by" the movement ofsaid member, a second stiii'er spring connected to said, member and put under tension after-a predetermined movement of -said member,

and a lock for restraining the retnrnmovement of" said, member and: becoming operative only after said second spring is. under tension. f i J 6. In asignal setting mechanis nria movable member'for actuating the signahmeans for moving said member to one position, a tension springconnected to said member for returning the same to its original pOsition, a second spring connected to s aidmemg a predetermined movement; of said member,

'a lock for securingsaid memberin itsmoved position and after theseco'ndspring-has become efiective, and means .becoming'oper- V ative after a stillfurther movementofsaid member for releasing the locking .means.

i 7'. A mechanism for setting-asignaldevice to two positions, comprising a rotatable shaft for actuating the signal device, a system of gears for rotating the shaft in one direction, a V stifi spring intermediate-betweenthe gear and theshafttalfesser spring arranged 'to' be put, under tension byithe rotation of theshaftthereby adapted by its recoil" to rotate the shaftin the opp j site direction, a stop for limiting the rototion of the shaft in the first direction, means for putting the stifi spring under tension, and locking the gearing and thereby the shaft against rotation in the opposite direction, and means for increasing the tension of the stifi' spring and unlocking the gearing, whereby the shaft is released to the recoil action of both springs.

8. In combination, a movable member, means for moving said member in one direction, an energy storing device connected to said member for restoring the same to its original position, a second energy storing device more powerful than the first connected to said member and operative only after a predetermined movement of said member, and means for locking said member in position after said second energy storing device becomes operative.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of June, 1915.

J OHANN KIEFER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

